Psychosocial predictors of anger among university students

• Published in: Children and youth services review Vol. 34; no. 2; pp. 474 - 479
• Main Authors: Hamdan-Mansour, Ayman M., Dardas, Latefa A., Nawafleh, Hani, Abu-Asba, Mohammad H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2012
• Subjects: Anger; Cigarettes; College Students; Health Problems; Intervention; Jordan; Life Satisfaction; Males; Personal mastery; Sex Differences; Social Support; State anger; Trait anger; Undergraduate students; University students; University students; Trait anger; State anger; Personal mastery; Social support; Life satisfaction
• ISSN: 0190-7409; 1873-7765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.12.004

Anger is regarded as one of the basic human emotions and has been linked to adverse health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate mental health predictors of anger among university students in Jordan. Methods: A sample of 241 university students from private and governmental universities in Jordan answered self-report questionnaires that include state-trait anger, perceived social support, personal mastery, and life satisfaction scale. The results showed that university students have moderate level of state and trait anger, and that student's perception of life satisfaction is a strong predictor of state and trait anger (p<.001) while social support and personal mastery were not. Number of smoked cigarette has significant correlation with trait anger (r=.18, p=.009), and no differences were found between male and female university students in their level of anger. The study's implications for educational and counseling programs, and research interventions were discussed. ► University students had moderate level of state and trait anger. ► State anger is correlated with gender while trait anger is not. ► Life satisfaction is a strong predictor of state and trait anger. ► Social support and personal mastery are not correlated with state and trait anger.